Cyclones Fall Twice To Minnesota

AMES, Iowa – Facing Minnesota (28-15, 9-5 Big Ten) in a doubleheader on Wednesday, Iowa State (19-26, 4-8 Big 12) made a late comeback attempt in the first game of the day but ultimately fell, 12-6, before dropping game two, 13-1.

Aly Cappaert and Erica Miller were responsible for all six of Iowa State’s runs in game one. Cappaert started a sixth inning rally by the Cyclones with the team trailing, 9-1, smashing a long ball to left with two outs and runners at the corners. Four batters later, Miller doubled with the bases loaded to drive in two more.

Both players went 2-for-4 with three RBI each in the first game, with Cappaert launching her second home run of the season and Miller finishing the day with a 7-for-8 streak this season with the bases loaded.

Lexi Slater drove in Iowa State’s only run in the second game and Sarah Hawryluk was the only Cyclone with multiple hits as Gopher Sara Moulton (24-9) picked up both wins in the circle.

In game one, Miller slashed a double down the right field line with one out in the first to drive in Sarah Hawryluk from second and put the first run of the game on the board.

In the top of the second, Kayla Wenner knocked a Tori Torrescano pitch over the wall in center, driving in two runs to give Minnesota a one run lead, and the Gophers tacked on two more runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth, two runs scoring on a home run from Tyler Walker.

But Iowa State would come charging back with one out in the sixth when Slater hit a double to deep center, followed by a Maddie Reese groundout and a walk to Sara Davison to put runners at the corners for Cappaert who homered to bring the score to 9-4.

The next batter, Jorden Spendlove, singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Brittany Gomez picked up her first hit of the game and Hawryluk hit a pitch into the dirt in front of home plate for a single that loaded the bases. Miller doubled to drive in two more runs and make the score 9-6 in favor of the Gophers.

Facing Cyclone reliever Madison Jones in the seventh, Minnesota scored three more runs, taking a 12-6 lead with Iowa State facing its final three outs in which Moulton, who exited and re-entered during the Iowa State sixth, secured the final three outs without allowing a run.

Moulton earned the win in the circle, working six and one-thirds innings and allowing a single run on six hits and one walk. Moulton struck out nine.

Torrescano (10-11) took the loss for Iowa State, giving up nine runs, eight earned, in six innings. Torrescano allowed 10 hits while walking and striking out three.

Minnesota led off game two with three runs in the first before Slater got a run back with an RBI-single with two outs in the bottom of the frame.

The visitors added three more runs in the third, on the back of a two-run triple off the bat of Wenner, and Bree Blanchette made the score 7-1 with a double in the fourth.

An error by the Cyclones in the sixth brought home another Minnesota run and the Gophers drew away for good with five runs in the top of the seventh.

Following her more than six innings of work in the day’s first game, Moulton returned to the circle for four more innings of work, giving up one run and five hits while walking one and striking out four.

Cyclone Taylor Smith (7-7) took the loss in game two, throwing four innings and allowing seven runs on seven hits while walking four and fanning none.

The Cyclones are in Norman, Okla. this weekend, April 26-28, for a series against No. 1 Oklahoma. First pitch on Friday is slated for 6:30 p.m. CDT.